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TRIED & TESTEDALL THE LATEST GEAR, KIT, NUTRITION PRODUCTS AND BOOKS

Thickness, Flexibility and Fit.In general the thickness of neoprene accessories can vary between 1mm and 4mm – the thicker the neoprene, the warmer your hands and feet will be, but at the expense of flexibility.

GlovesIf you want to swim longer distances in your gloves, flexibility is key. Thick neoprene can affect your stroke by removing any feel of the water, so choose one of the sleeker-styled gloves. The different movement of front crawl or breaststroke may also influence your choice as the movement may impact on water intake – gloves with wrist fasteners or ‘grippier’ edges are particularly good for front crawl.

SocksA good neoprene sock will allow you to swim normally and not feel like you’re wearing slippers. A snug fit ensures they work properly as wet socks, allowing a film of water in and keeping it there to warm up rather than flushing through all the time. Most have reinforced soles to provide some protection to the soles of the feet.

HatsYour body loses a lot of its heat out through the head, so in colder water a neoprene hat can make a huge difference. Again, a snug but comfortable fit is key.Alice Gartland

Cold water kit

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Cold water swimming – it’s all about the accessories. This month we give you a snap

shot of neoprene boots, gloves, vests and hats that can make all the difference to extending your swimming season and levels of enjoyment. And for those of you brave enough to venture to an indoor pool, we’ve got the latest training toys for your kit bag.

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GLOVES

BOOTS

Zone 3 Neoprene Heat-Tech Glove £34 3.5mm gloves, with titanium lining to reflect the body’s heat. Velcro fastener and smoothskin closure. Printed palm design helps with grip. Great feel for the water, and warmth. zone3.com

ORCA Swim Socks £2590% neoprene and 10% nylon fabric with 3mm thickness. Longer ankles with small pull loop on the back and a silicon grip on the soles. If you get cold feet we would recommend these – including for swimrun races. orca.com

LOMO Aqua Boots £29.99UK 6-125mm neoprene boot with robust sole – ideal for a variety of water adventures, where you are moving between land and water regularly. Very generous sizing. lomo.co.uk

LOMO Swimming and triathlon gloves £193mm neoprene. Loved by swimmers, our tester could double their time in the water. The ‘L’ came up smaller than the other brands. An excellent value for money choice. lomo.co.uk

GlovesLOMO Neoprene Gloves 5mm £11.50Sizes S - XXLA thicker glove, with patterned grip and secure velcro wrap around closure – versatile glove for a variety of water activities. lomo.co.uk

Zone 3 Neoprene Heat-Tech Bootie £353.5mm neoprene. Increased length with velcro closure to ensure the socks stay in place. Snug, secure but not squashed fit. Combines flexibility of a sock with robustness of a boot. zone3.com

C-Skins Wired 3mm Neoprene Gloves £36.99 3mm C-Flex Ultra Stretch Neoprene; Resin Palm Print for grip. Easy to put on; a good longer length cut. Fabric feels very robust.c-skins.com

Zone 3 Neoprene Swim Socks £252mm neoprene, gripped sole and velcro strap – it was a popular choice for the Hurly Burly. A lighter choice than the Zone3 bootie. zone3.com

ORCA Wetsuit Base Layer Unisex £490.5mm neoprene with jersey lining makes this base layer easy to get on and off and comfortable against the skin. A long body length with a special gripper hem panel helps to keep water out and so increase warmth. Good freedom of movement.orca.com

EskeezMen’s Super Thermal Base Layer £54.99 (S-XL) (Black) Soft double thickness turtleneck for added thermal protection. Smooth knit surface and brush fleece on the inside. Tapered sleeves. Long body design. Perfect in cold water conditions. eskeez.co.uk

Zone 3 Men’s Neoprene Warmth Vest £42.50 (XS – L)Snug fit for extra warmth when outdoors. Wear under the wetsuit or without a wetsuit when warm enough. The 2mm thick layer is tight fitting and has a high neck with just a single seam for extra comfort. zone3.com

BASE LAYERS

GEAR TRIED & TESTED TRIED & TESTED GEAR

Keep warm in the water

Keep your toes toasty

Wear with or without a wetsuit

ORCA swimming gloves £353mm glove, with extra- long sleeve for additional protection from the cold. Excellent cold water protection especially with the increased cuff length. orca.com

C-Skins Polypro GBS Body Board Sox £20.99 4mm neoprene, a recore poly pro lining that wicks water away from your feet, Duro x Sole for durability. A bit of a battle to get on but were great in the water. c-skins.com

EskeezWomen’s Super Thermal Base Layer (Black/ White) £54.99 (S-XL) (black and white)Smooth surface and cosy brush fleece on the inside. The long body design to cover below the waistline also helps prevent ‘riding up’. Machine washable. 93% polyester and 7% Elastane. eskeez.co.uk

C-Skins Men’s Short Sleeve HDi Thermal Skin £35 (XS – 2XL)Excellent insulation with quick-dry properties. 12oz PolyPro provides insulation while the strategically positioned seams give you unrestricted movement and great comfort, with rash protection. c-skins.com

EskeezWomen’s Super Thermal Leggings £49.99 (S-XL) (Black)Lightweight and breathable leggings that offer super insulation from the coldest conditions. Easy to wear and comfortable beneath sports shorts, tracksuit bottoms or trousers. Draw cord waistband. eskeez.co.uk

Editor’s choice!

Top choice!

Top choice!

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TOWEL ROBES AND ONESIESTHERMAL HATS

MERINO BASE LAYERS VERSATILE BAGS

Get warm, dry and dressedNeoprene balaclavas

Post-swim warmers Outdoor kit bag and changing mat

Stylish design!

Ideal after a cold Winter’s swim!

TRIED & TESTED GEAR

Booicore Outdoor Changing Towel Robe £30.99 One size100% cotton, 400gsm robe with a big roomy hood, and big kangaroo pouch on the front. Available in seven colours. thebooicorestore.com

Charlie McLeod Driathlon £34.95 Size S-XLMade from highly absorbent micro fibre this unisex robe is excellent - quick drying as well as roomy for changing under. Rolls up neatly to fit easily in your kit bag. charliemcleod.co.uk

Dryrobe Advance £109.99 Size S-LExcellent. Waterproof and windproof outer shell; synthetic lambswool lining. Deep fleece lined pockets with zip loops for ease of access and velcro fastenings to lock in heat. Roomy, with chin guard to hide behind. Like having the shelter of a tent for hiding against the elements. Large internal pocket and zipped pocket for valuables. Love it. dryrobe.com

Charlie McLeod Long Sleeve Sports Cloak £84.95Thick Sherpa fleece lining, extra-long zip pulls for cold fingers, vented side panels for ease of movement. charliemcleod.co.uk

Swimzi Born 02 Swim £69Toasty and cosy post or pre-swim or for just sitting on the sofa eating pizza. Zip goes all the way up to the top of the hood. swimzi.com

Charlie McLeod Onesie £49.95Big hood and roomy front pouch – comes with its own bag – great value. charliemcleod.co.uk

ORCAThermal Swim Hat £29.003mm 100% neoprene cap with adjustable strap and bright design. Really kept my head warm and gives more face protection from the cold than an ordinary hat. Comfortable chin strap. orca.com

Zone 3 UnisexNeoprene Swim Cap £253mm Neoprene Skull Cap with a velcro strap which joins under the chin. Excellent for extending time in the water – warm and very comfortable. zone3.com

Rolls up neatly!

Alpkit Kepler Long Sleeve (men’s) pure merino base layer £49(Size S-XXL)Premium New Zealand 160gsm merino for on the hill and warming up post swim adventure. Breathable, wicking, fast drying and odour resistant. This is an excellent foundation to any layering system.alpkit.com

Alpkit Kepler Short Sleeve (Women’s) pure merino base layer £37Great fit, breathable, wicking, fast drying and odour resistant. I actually used this to dry off when I forgot my towel! An excellent base layer for warming up post swim or on a wild swim bivvy adventure. Looks great as a T-shirt too.alpkit.com

Selkie Swim Changing Bag £20Stand on it to get changed, protect your feet and kit from muddy ground. Can roll wet kit up into it once changed. swimselkie.com

C-Skins Dry Bag £55 60LWaterproof, super tough PVC tarpaulin material; removable back pack straps; heavy duty carry handles; welded seams; front pocket; great for keeping kit dry on swim adventures. c-skins.com

Editor’s choice!

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GEAR TRIED & TESTED

POOL KIT BAGWhat’s inside our kit bag this month?Aqua Sphere Back Pack £49.99The main compartment features a mesh organizer with an additional four zippered pockets, including a ‘wet’ section to provide secure space for all your swim gear. When not in use the wet pocket can be opened to create even more space in the main compartment. The

two side pockets are large enough for water bottles, shoes or even fins. Adjustable

back straps and integrated carry handle. Large, expandable, zippered compartment with mesh organiser.

aquasphereswim.com

Nabaiji Snorkel £9.99Good airflow for novice to intermediate swimmers. decathlon.co.uk

Nabaiji Short Fin £11.99Great all round robust fin – excellent value. decathlon.co.uk

Arena The One Goggle £16Super comfy fit with wide vision. A versatile high quality goggle at an excellent price. Love it. solosports.co.uk

HUUB Aphotic Swim Goggle £44.99These goggles get darker or lighter depending on light conditions. The ‘self regulating’ lens is great for outdoor use and a really comfortable fit with wide view. huubdesign.com

Snorkels!

Fins!

Paddles!

Pull Buoy!

Goggles!

Nabaiji Pull Buoy L £5.99 XL £9.99Great chunky pull buoy – and nice to have a choice of sizes. decathlon.co.uk

Nabaiji Paddles S/M £6.99 XL £9.99Good all-round paddle in two sizes. decathlon.co.uk

Nabaiji Finger Paddles £6.99Excellent value and less impact than a full paddle. decathlon.co.uk

Ear plugsFinisSwimEars £49.98Block water, dirt and bacteria while allowing you to hear conversations and instructions. Three sizes of buds and stabilisation wings provide a watertight fit. Threaded so hard to lose. finisswim.com

Arena Dome Ear Plugs £6.00Comfortable fit with dome tip in a variety of colours. solosports.co.uk

Zoggs Aquaplugz Ear Plugs £6.00Comfortable secure fit. zoggs.com

Ultimate EarSwim Plug £65 + £5 p+pCustom made earplug. Ideal for open water swimmers – protection from water and potential infection but also allow situational awareness. ultimateear.com

Great for the

pool!

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